Ford Puma S1400

Background

Ford Puma Kit cars were developed by Ford Racing at Borham, Essex. The Ford Racing Engineers were tasked with producing a rally ready version of the Ford Puma. Whilst the new Focus was viewed as an ideal base for an FIA World Rally Championship car, it was decided that it would be uncompetitive as a 1400cc machine.  It was fortunate therefore that Ford had the Puma, which was lightweight and had an almost square wheelbase. Even in basic road trim its handling was phenomenal.

Ford Racing took these solid foundations and from them developed two Puma kit-cars: the VK14 (the S1400) and the VK16 (the S1600). The two body shells were of identical construction with the same amount of wheel travel on both cars. However, on the S1600 VK16 the track was widened further to allow for wider wheels and tyres – as permitted by the regulations. The ride-height remained the same on both S1400 and S1600 cars.

The engine sizes were chosen to match FIA classes. The kit-car regulations allowed the engineers to decrease or increase engine capacity. Both Puma kit-cars used versions of the 1.7-litre Zetec engine (as found in the standard road going Ford Puma) – downsized to the appropriate capacity.

This Car

Is an original factory-built car but originally used under a different registration number by the Ford team. The shell and roll cage were built by Gordon Vincent, the engine was built by Mountune and was maintained and developed by Chris Birbeck Motorsport. When the car was no longer required by Ford, Chris Birbeck took ownership of the car and it was at this point that the registration number changed to its current one.

The car was originally used by the winner of the Ford Ka Championship, in the Colin McRae Scholarship Program. The car then crossed the Irish Sea where it was campaigned by a father and daughter team. It was subsequently sold to Colin Byrne and converted to right hand drive. Here it secured a number of top three class results on the Irish Tarmac Championship.

After this the car went into a private collection in Wales where it made appearances on invitational events over the next few years. In 2018 the car was sold and the new owner used it on a number of Motorsport News Circuit Championship events including the 2019 Corbeau Seats Rally in Essex, the first English closed road rally.  In late 2019 the car was bought by a father and son team who have returned it to its original works colour scheme and now use it competitively and on demonstration events.

Technical specification

Engine:             1400cc Ford Zetec SE,16v

Induction:          Naturally Aspirated Multipoint fuel injection

Transmission:   Front Wheel Drive, six speed Close Ratio Gearbox with Quaife LSD

Power output:   190bhp